By Mike Szostech Last updated
If you’re looking for the best paddle board Canada, Amazon has hundreds of ‘no name’ paddle board options that will work great for most people, especially those looking to purchase their first inflatable paddle board.
Just be sure to check on the warranty offers, and if you’re just beginning with paddle boarding, don’t think you have to buy an expensive model in order to hit the water!
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP for short) began way back in the 1940s in Hawaii, and it recent years it’s been a fast growing trend. It’s a great way to get outside and get a full body workout. It’s also easy to learn, so you can start enjoying it right away – where as other sports like surfing take a lot more falling to begin with!
How much should I spend trying to get the best paddle board in Canada?
You know that this answer is different for everyone. What we’ve done in this write-up is gathered all the options for the best inflatable SUP around the $300 mark. There are lots of inflatable paddle boards that cost more than $1000, but people looking to spend that much will likely have very specific requirements.
While it’s true that these budget paddle boards are not of the highest quality or durability, they are more than enough to get someone out on the water. And it’s because of the low cost of entry level inflatable paddle boards that the sport is exploding!
For beginners the best paddle board in Canada will be a budget option that just gets them out on the water, and in our experience all of the budget options we tested worked just swell. The only problem we encountered was when the handle ripped off of our ROC paddle board and the support team stopped contacting us after they asked for a picture of the damage.
If you’re positive that you’ll go paddling many times for years to come, then sure, go ahead and buy a $1000 paddle board. However, if you’re still just interesting in casual paddling, or for using when your family visits the lake a few times a year, then here are your options for the best inflatable paddle board in Canada.
What’s the best selling paddle board in Canada?
When you’re in the market for a cheap inflatable paddle board, then best selling doesn’t mean much. We see Amazon’s best selling paddle board title change to a different board every day or two as all of the sellers are competing to be the most popular by changes their prices and descriptions regularly. It seems that at the cheapest entry price, the best selling iSUP is simply the cheapest one.
We decided to buy a few of the best selling paddle boards on Amazon and test them ourselves, so that we can let you know if the best selling/cheapest board is really the best paddle board for you. And what we found is that these paddle boards are really all the same – they’re manufactured overseas, then branded with a different name and graphic, and sold online as if they have something unique to offer.
There really are only a few differences such as shape and size, and so we’ve chosen the best paddle board in each of those categories. Keep reading to learn about the best paddle board for stability, or for speed.
What’s the problem with buying cheap paddle boards?
Just like everything in life, you get what you pay for. The budget stand-up paddle boards are not going to be built with the same quality and care of a board that costs 3 times as much.
In exchange for a lower price, you’re likely giving up some longevity as these cheap paddle boards may only last a few years (we can guess this because the budget options have a 30 day or 1 year warranty, while some of the expensive paddle boards have a lifetime warranty!).
You’re also getting paddles that are heavier – made of aluminum rather than fiberglass or carbon fiber. Also, there are some users that complain of the aluminum paddle sinking if you drop them; That can be easily fixed by adding some foam in the hollow handle.
The inflator pumps are also more prone to breaking, or more specifically, the inlet hoses coming detached from the pump. These problems seem to become evident right away, so you’re well within your return window still.
We suggest that if you aren’t too vigorous in your pumping and it lasts you a couple rounds of inflating or deflating, you didn’t get a defective pump.
Lastly, the carrying bags for the budget standup paddle boards are not as rugged. Their material is thin and the straps aren’t as comfortable. The zippers and straps are also more prone to breakage.
All of these things shouldn’t be a surprise. That’s why you’re saving $500 or more on a cheap paddle board!
If this sounds like something you don’t want to deal with, and we totally understand, then consider buying one from a Canadian paddle board company.
Best Paddle Board Canada in 2023 Comparisons:
Hey Canada! This section helps you compare the features of these products to help you choose the best option for you! Click on the product name to jump down to that specific review.
Price
At the time of publication, these were the published prices that were taken into account when ranking and choosing the 'Best Paddle Board Canada'.
Dimensions
A paddle board's dimensions are an important consideration when choosing which inflatable paddle board is best for your needs. A larger paddle board is more stable and can support more weight, but they make the boards heavier and harder to maneuver. If you're a beginner, look for something wide to help you with your stability. Something around 32 or 33 inches wide is generally accepted as a beginner board. If you're looking for speed, then a longer narrow SUP is what you want. Or, for catching waves, you'll want something short and maneuverable.
Weight
Weight Capacity
Warranty
Materials
Accessories
Best Budget Inflatable Paddle Board - Advendor
This cheap paddle board is our top pick for a budget inflatable paddle board because it's wide (33 inches), and it's 11 feet long, which makes it incredibly stable for those just learning to paddle board.
Since it's bigger, it does weigh about 4 pounds more than a smaller board, so if you plan on packing this any distance you might want to consider a different paddle board.
This paddle board is wide! It's 11 feet long, and 33 inches wide - that makes it the most stable board you'll find in the under $300 price range.
With three detachable bottom fins (rather than just the typical center fin that is removable), you can track straight on the water and roll it up into the backpack carry bag easily.
The dual action hand pump is also a nice accessory, as it allows you to pump air out of the paddle board to help speed up deflating and re-packing at the end of a day of paddling.
Get the best price ADVENDOR Extra Wide Inflatable Paddle Board in Canada from:
Best Budget Inflatable Paddle Board - Advendor review details:
Top Rated Paddleboard - Feath-R-Lite Stand Up Paddle Board
With excellent wear resistance, toughness and long service life, this inflatable stand up paddle board is ultra-light!
Hundreds of reviews help prove that even though this inflatable paddleboard is cheap, it's still a great value! While the board itself is of similar quality to more expensive options, it seems like the company may have been able to cut costs on their accessories.
The greatest complaint, aside from a few inflatable SUPs that had leaks straight out of the box, is that the paddle doesn't float - so if you drop it, it's gone. Should be easy to fix by sticking some foam into the hollow core of the paddle.
The pump also has some quality control issues, with the filler hose sometimes wanting to pop off of the pump body. And if you want a comfy backpack for hauling your inflatable paddle board to the remote beaches of Canada, this backpack isn't it.
Get the best price FEATH-R-LITE Stand Up Paddle Board in Canada from:
Top Rated Paddleboard - Feath-R-Lite Stand Up Paddle Board review details:
Aqua Plus Inflatable Paddle Board
This inflatable paddle board is a little more than the other options, but is often on sale for around $250!
The board is made of high grade Military Ultra Light PVC Drop Stitch Fabric. Constructed with additional PVC layer of board rails are highly strengthened the board. Deflated it's only 1 foot in diameter by 38".
Get the best price Aqua Plus Inflatable SUP in Canada from:
Aqua Plus Inflatable Paddle Board review details:
Read our full review of the AquaPlus Inflatable Paddle Board Reviews CanadaBest Inflatable SUP for speed - Tuxedo Sailor
If you're looking for speed, the shape of this SUP makes it the best paddle board for speed. There are some complaints about the paddle lock (the part that holds it locked at the adjustable length) breaking, but there's a 1 year warranty on the accessories so don't let that keep you from buying this one.
Tuxedo Sailor paddleboard is made of the new ultra-light military-grade PVC material, which is 35% lighter than regular materials. It also comes with a kayak seat so you can choose to sit with the backrest rather than stand.
Get the best price Tuxedo Sailor Sport Inflatable SUP in Canada from:
Best Inflatable SUP for speed - Tuxedo Sailor review details:
No longer recommended - Best Paddleboard for Beginners - ROC
Update: No longer recommended. The ROC paddleboards are now listed on Amazon for $600 and up, and after a few uses, the central carrying handle ripped off of ours and the company has not responded to our inquiries. We tried following up again and the email trail has gone cold.
Originally purchased for around $300, here is what we originally said in our ROC paddleboard review:
More expensive, but excellent tracking and maneuverability. The build quality also seems better than the cheaper paddle boards, and even the pump works better and the backpack has more comfortably padded shoulder straps.
The extra wide design creates an incredible all-around board for riders of all skill levels. These paddle boards can be used in the ocean, freshwater lakes, and rivers. It has an industry-leading weight of only 17.5 pounds—that’s 20% lighter than competitors’. Board dimensions are 10’ long by 33” wide and 6” thick with a weight limit of 300 pounds. Pets love them to!
Get the best price ROC Paddle Board Canada in Canada from:
No longer recommended - Best Paddleboard for Beginners - ROC review details:
Read our full review of the ROC Paddle Board Review - iSUP paddle board for beginnersWhat shape of paddle board should I get?
As mentioned above, the wider the paddle board, the more stable it will be. A 32″ or 33″ width is recommended for beginners. They’re harder to turn tightly, but they are less likely to tip you sideways into the drink while you’re learning.
If you plan to do longer excursions and trips, you’ll likely want a more pointed shape rather than the typical all-around blunt-nose. The same goes for if you plan to ride some waves – you’ll need something pointy, as well as something narrower to increase maneuverability on the stand up paddleboard.
The tail shape of paddle boards can also vary greatly, pith a pointed tail (also called a pin tail) being great for straight line performance and speed, but not as stable as other shapes.
The square tail seems to be a good all-around tail shape for faster speed and also some stability, and the round tail is the slowest but provides the easiest turning and best stability on a paddle board. The boards we’ve picked as the best paddle board Canada have round tails which is great for beginners to get started paddling.
To read more about tail shapes visit SupBoarderMag.
How many tie down points do you need?
Some of the best inflatable stand up paddle boards in Canada come with a few tie-down points at the front that has a bungee to secure a water bottle. This can vary from being a 4-point tie down to a 6 point.
Some paddleboards also come with D-rings all down the sides of the board. These can be used for securing a backrest for paddling while sitting, and they can be used to tie additional gear onto the board if you plan to use it on excursions or for fishing trips.
If you fall off the board regularly, or plan to use it for wave surfing, these d-rings can cause some pain should your foot slip into them or if you fall off and scrape yourself on them. Plus, if you have little ones sharing your paddle board, as they are climbing on and off of the board these rings can scrape them up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are inflatable standup paddleboards (iSUP) worth it?
For a leisure user, inflatable paddleboards are definitely worth it! An inflatable is typically lighter, and it's much more portable and can be carried around in a (large) backpack. Also, for beginners, if you fall off, crashing down on the board doesn't hurt near as much as it could on a hard paddle board.
How long does it take to pump an inflatable paddle board?
Reports vary, and of course it depends on how good of a pump you have, and how strong you are and how much energy you have. On average, it takes us about 400 pumps to get up to a decent pressure. The first pumps are easy, but as you get tired and as the paddle board pressure increases, the pumping gets tiring!
It can take up to 15 minutes, especially if you want to get to the 15 PSI level. That's why there is also a whole market of electronic SUP inflators, but really any portable inflator that you already own will work fine.
Is paddle boarding fun?
Since we purchased a few of these for the best paddle boards Canada review, we've taken them to family camp outs, to beach days with friends, and other places where friends have had a chance to try them out.
The result? They're all amazed that you can buy one of these paddle boards for under $300, and they have bought their own too!